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| The NYPD's proposed changes to city permit rules would subject groups of pedestrians and bicyclists "proceeding together" (above) to arrest if one person breaks any traffic rule, law or regulation.
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Special Action Alert:
The NYPD is Trying to Take Away Your Right to Ride
Take Action to Preserve Your Freedom to Ride a Bike in New York City
The Police Department is unilaterally proposing to change the City's parade permit rules (PDF) and under these new rules, the NYPD will have the power to stop any ten or more cyclists "proceeding together" if one of them breaks any traffic rules, law or regulation.
Simply put, this means that you can be arrested for the conduct of others. If you are riding around Central Park, or on any city street, and find yourself with a group of cyclists, affiliated or not, and one cyclist rides through a red light, doesn't have a bell or rolls outside of a bike lane, a police officer could stop the entire group and arrest everyone for parading without a permit.
The Police Department is also proposing that every bike ride with thirty or more cyclists must apply for a parade permit and an NYPD-approved route. If the ride does not obtain a permit or people stray from the police-approved route, even if they are obeying all laws, every rider will be subject to arrest.
Under these new rules, bicycle clubs, youth groups, health organizations and community and civic groups, even you and your friends, will have to obtain NYPD clearance for every single bike ride. It means these law abiding citizens will have to obtain parade permits for all of their group bike rides or that they will have to turn people away and cap their events at thirty people.
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How can we stop these proposed rules?
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Speaker Quinn needs to hear that you oppose the NYPD's proposed parade permit rules.
Tell her that these proposed changes will:
- Affect millions of New Yorkers each year;
- Make it difficult for New Yorkers to participate in thousands of formal and informal tours and bike rides, routine training bike rides, field trips, site seeing tours, historical, cultural, environmental and neighborhood tours and more;
- Greatly discourage physical activity, exercise, educational trips and tourism;
- Force many to forego biking altogether and result in more traffic, more air and noise pollution, more subway crowding and a lower quality of life.
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They need to hear that the Police Department's proposed parading rules will deter people from riding bicycles in New York City and worsen relations between cyclists and the police. They need to hear that less cycling is bad for the health and quality of life of New Yorkers and for the environment and economy of New York City.
City Councilmembers need to be urged to speak out against the proposed changes at the November 27 hearing. And, City Councilmembers need to be urged to tell Speaker Quinn that they oppose the NYPD’s proposal and want commonsense parade rules in New York City.
Voice your opposition! Attend the November 27 public hearing or send written comments
NYPD Public Hearing
11am-2pm
One Police Plaza, Manhattan
Assemble for Rights NYC Rally
One Police Plaza
Noon-2 pm
If you plan to testify or submit written comments write to:
Assistant Deputy Commissioner Thomas P. Doepfner
New York City Police Department
One Police Plaza, Room 1406
New York, NY 10038
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Assemble for Rights NYC is a coalition working for commonsense rules of assembly in New York City. People interested in volunteering can e-mail volunteer@a4rnyc.org.
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